Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Lesson on Love
A French historian, Henry Houssaye, wrote, “Tell me whom you love and I will tell you who you are.” This compelling statement could be altered to include “Tell me whom and what you love, and I will tell you who you are.”
The best indicator of what we love is that to which we devote the most time and energy. What and whom we say we love, or even think we love, may very well be different from the evidence that our behavior presents. Are we devoting as much time as we should to the people and things that we profess to love the most?
The realities of life often interfere with our priorities. We may become sidetracked or lackadaisical, disillusioned or rebellious, confused or cynical. The love that we profess may not be the love that we show. Who we become, as a result of whom and what we love, may not be what we intended to be.
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments…” (2 John 1:6) The commandments provide wonderful insights into whom and what we should love, and then give us exacting guidelines to help us nurture and cultivate that love. Righteously striving to keep the commandments will help us focus on the people and the things that we should love the most.
